Rodent trap



N.v.22,1927.k 1,650,455

` J. P. LEwas RODENT TRAP Filed Oct. 25. 1926 HTM Mo-ow WMM 1"' Y INVENToR.'

A JhuPLewz's,

` 50H1@ IE". LEWIS, OLE' TILLAIVIOOKOR-EGON.

-nonnivr maar.

Application sie@ cameras, i926. `serrati No. 144,131.

The invention relates to a Atrap and more especially to the class ofrodent traps, for

catching gopliers, moles or other burrowing rodents. i

The primary objecty of the inventionis the provision or a trap of thischaracter, wherein the construction thereof lis such to entice animals,particularlythe borrowing rodents, lto `enter the said trap andwhenwithin the same will become imprisoned `or trapped,so that suchanimal will be held, without.inJury to the same orany liability of theescape of the animal.

Another objectv of the invention is the provision of a trap of thischaracter, wherein the closure therefor isv set in open position andautomatically released for closing movenient, when a gopher, mole, orother rodent enters the trap with a view otv seeking or acquiring thefood or bait therein and the closure when swung toclosed position willentrap the animal, without `possibility oi' body injury* or theliability of the escape of such animal from the trap. g g

A further object of the invention is the provision of a trap oi thischaracter, where-` in the construction thereoil is novel in form, sothat the same can be set for the trapping of rodents, 'and is automaticin action forl the positive retentiono'f the animal when enter i ing thetrap, without possibility oftheim jui-y tothe animal or the killing ofthe same. A still further object ot the invention is the provisionotatrap of `this character, which is extremely simple in construction,thoroughly reliable and efficient in its Jpurpose, readily and easilyportable, kbeing light iii weight, yet sti'ong and'durable, andinexpensive to manufacture. l 'f y,

lilith these and other objects in f view, the invention consists in theieaturesoficonstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, as willbe hereinafter more fully dek scribed, in detail, illustrated in theacconif panying drawing showing the preferred embodiment oi' theinvention, `and pointedout in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanyingdrawing: i

Figure l is a perspective view of the trap constructed in accordancewith the invention, showing a portion ot its body broken away and withthe closure in open position and latched for the trapping ot' an animalwithin the trap.

Figure 2 is asimilar view to Figure l showing the closure released andin closed position.

Figure Sis a detailed plan viewyoi" the blank fromwhich thebody of theVtrap "is maare.,

" rig-ure i is a aaaiieaeisvaaoa fait v.an

wall ofthe trap. Figure 5 is an elevation of the fulcrum bracket `forthe latching device controlling the closureof the trap. y C l Figure 6is a perspective view of the ten sioning spring for the closure of thetrap.

Similar "reference characters indicate co`rresponding parts throughoutthe several views in the drawing. l y

kReferringgto the drawing injdetail, nA designates generally the body ofthe trap,l made troni` a single piece or blankpf'm'aterial l, preferablysheet metal cut into theV desired form to provide a rounded crown or top2, opposed sides 3 and a bottom `4, s

elongatedtormation and closed atone end Y by an end wall 5 having aseries of ventilating holes 6 therein. This end wall 5 ismade fast tothe `body A in any suitable manner.` The opposite open end of the body Ais cut to provide an inwardly inclined or beveled entrance` mouth 7 forfree access there# through to the interior of the trap 'as Vwill beobvious. y i

Arranged contiguous to the mouth and swingingly supported for openingand clos-` ing movement is a closuiedoor, gate 0r the 1 like 8, thesaine being hung from its top portion for swinging movement u on atransverse .pivot 9 suitably mounted in the sides 3 of the body A closeto the crown 2 thereof. This closure door, gate or the like@ 8 4can beconnected to the pivot 9 in any desirable manner and the latter hascarried thereon a coiled tensioning spring 10 having the arm `11playiiigagainst the inneri'ace of the crown 2 audits other arm 12playing against` the innerI face oflthe door, gate or the like 8 and inthis manner the latter under the tension of said spring 10 is urged toclosed position for closing the entrance 7 to the trap.

Suitably connected with the body A of) the y loose eonpnlng rocker bar16, one end of the latter'fbe'ingv linked at 17 with a connecting member18 engaged with the clo'suie, that-` is the door,

ate or the like 8, the engagement being a with the latter.- Tliis member18 Works through zi's'uitable hole 19'lormcd inf the crown 2 ofthe bodyA of the' trap.

1f 'rite einer ,end 5f ne bnie has linked at 20 therewith a latchiiigpin' 21. the same working through asuitable hole 22 formed inthe cow'ii2 of the body A of thetrap. This Jpin 21 has cut'therein a l'at'cliing'hp 9.3,

ii'liiohris adapted1 for enga-gement with the edge" fthe 'opening 'eemlock the pin 21 in 1atchedrelation to `theibf )d'y A- of ,the trap. Hefin 21 when rfehd f5 nl@ bodyn 1mg ifsff re`e` end protr'ded within thebody A oflthelt'ra'pad' Ythis' 'free end 24 constitutes bait hanger; as'character of bait can be hung upon the pin 2li for the purposes oftitiig animals4 VWithin the body A of the f'l l i Y the ylise" andzoperation of the trap the fleshed;

fill

' f lie imprisonment Yof such animiil.

by pulling? 'pon the connecting niemeer 8 canY te. moved; f5' openpesition gaist theresistance of the spring' 10 and Vtfo, s's'ti-n"si'c'li clo'suie 8 in opened position, 'fllefrbckef' br- 16 ils'fulcrmned nero-'SS the fiem1nembe1-1 13 while die pin 2i isl sxsejdtlfpuehihe opening 2a so that the 111523' will' lttrl the pin tothebodyY A of tli'eitap as'i's" olearly shown ii'i" l4`igure' 1v offliedfawig'. Theeefrer the bait tis hung p'onitlg'e pini 211 and itsAfree end 24' pro; f 'c'te'd ite'ariorljr of the body A of the trap. )lietap is' r'o'iyf Set and Whe'nan animal eiitrs'rthiou'gh .the month 7 andnibbles o l" ttm'fptsto release the bait Jfrom the pin 2li, thel latterwll become automatically'7 un;-

` i thus [fleeing the closure ey which nderltlie actie'nof the springe'1o will reinzilmfswin'g tio'fclos'g position as shown in ii'gufe ekoffhg@ dmwingienmpping the nil'iil Within the body A .of sai'd trap orDuring fhc'l'o'sing movement of the closure 8, the"v p'iiiwi'llbecomee'fizftiacted' through the' hole oi* opening; 22m the' crown 2 oi thebody faiid the' said pinunnd the" tuleruni bar 16 i iillfiy iliifeer andoli' of thefl'rlcrinn member 3i ,1fisig'frm the bodyrk y ot the trap.

f From the.foregoing it is'thonght that tlie eostriiction and manner ofoperation ofthe tmp winne ciearl'yfundfei-Stood and therefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted.

What isl claimed is:

1. A trap of the character described com prising a body closed at oneend and open at itsopposite end', a closure member swingingly mounted inthe body at the open end thereof, means for tensioning the closuremember, a fulcrnm element connected with and rising from the'bodyexteriorly thereof, a rocker bar fulcrumed on said fulcl'um element, aconnection between' the' closure membe'r and' one 'end of' the rockerbar, and a pin connected' with theA other' end of the' rocker ,bar undadapted to be prot'ruliell through the body and latch'ed therewith' tonormally hold the closure member in open position' against theresistance of the t'n' sion means.

2. A1 tr pof the character' describedeem4 'piising a' ody closed at oneend and faen' at its opposite end, a' closure member' swing-j In'glymounted in the'b'ody :it'th'e' openl endl thereof means for tensioningthe' closle A member, a fl'crum eleni'ent coiin'mlfed with aii'd risingfrom th body eXterioily' tli'e, a locl''r bar tulc'r'um'ed on Saidlc'rih element. a connection between the clbsic member' and' one end ofthe rocker bar, find av pin' connected' with the other en'd f tlerolckei bar and adapted to be pr'ot'iiiiiedl through the bo'dj7- and;lfltc'li'ed thiien'fi'tfli to normztlly hold the closure member in open'positionv against the resistance of the tensin means.y said body beingprovided with opere' ings throuliivhich' "rkthe latehig pin and' thec'oiiec'tibn between ther clos'ie iie'il' be'r'and the' ock'er'ba'. t

3. trap of the' lialctei described cnipr'i'siii'g a body closedl at onee'd ad operi' tits opposite end, a c'lfosiireIv member' ei'vinf4inglymonted inA` tliebbod-y at the open efnflT thereof, means fortensioning the closure' inember` a ful'cum elementc'onncted with andrising from nie' body exterien'v wertet af rocher' bar fulcr'ui'n'e'donisaidif'ulcium elcl' merit, a" connection bet-Ween tliec-lostne member'a'dl one' end of the rocker' bei", a pin' connected with the other' endof the rocker bar andadapted to be* protrnded through the body7 andlatched'therewith tonornially hold the' closnreme'niber ino'penp'osition' against; the resista-nce' of the' tension means Saidbody being provided with openings through which Work the latcbin'g' pinand the connectioii' betiiieenth'e closure member and' theA rocker'bar,` and a sunken portion formcd at the top oi the iuleruni element toprovide a seat for the sai'd bar.

JoHN P. Linvis.i

